Gearless pivoted suction roll



Avromev Nov. 24, 1931. H. R. FARNswoRTH GEARLESS PIVOTED SUCTION ROLL v Filed March l5, 1928 Nov.. 24, 1931- H. R. FARNSWORTH GEARLESS PIVOTED SUCTION ROLL Filed March l5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet I NVENTOR sr /M//i me/1y lib PatentedI Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HILAND B. IABNBWOB'H, 0F SANDUSKY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE PAPER & TEXTILE IACHINEBY COMPANY, OF SANDUSKY',l OHIO GEABLEBS PIVOTED SUGTION ROLL Appuhon and umn 15, 192s. seran No. 261,713.

The present invention relates toypaper making machinery and more particularly to a suction roll gearless drive or means for driving or revolving the perforate shell of the roll by other thangears.

It has been common practice in recent years to drive the shell by direct intermeshing gears, one gear being rigidly fixed to the shell at or near one end, in any suitable or welll known manner. Necessarily, this increased the over-all diameter by the dihierence between the exterior diameters of the shell and gear, making a larger and more cumbersome roll at that end. ln the gear driven type there is a considerable loss of power through friction ofthe engaging gear teeth-roughly, 20% or more. In the gear driven type there are, obviously, at least two inteirneshing gears between the irl-drive shaft and the roll which it drives. Clearly, extra gears in the gear driven roll, as compared with the gearless drive, give added opportunities for repalrs and other recognized disadvantages including the stoppage of the machine for the repairs to the gear drlve.

The main objects of the present invention are to avoid this and other recognized difliculties niet with in the gear driven roll.

ln order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation, and use of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application. rlhroughout the several gures of the drawings like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views.

ln the drawings: Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal cross section through one preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 isa cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.-

Fig. 3 is a right hand end view of Fig.,1, with the drive omitted.

Fig. 4 is a left hand end view.

Fig. 5 is a lateral cross section on line 5*-5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the right hand end of the she tional view through the' reduced neck and outer shell bearing.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 indicates the Vusual perforated suction roll shell at present widely used in paper making machines. These shells under actual working conditlons are driven at a high rate of speed, and therefore, practically necessitate the use of antifriction bearings between them and the relatively stationary supports about which the revolve, as will be later disclosed.

Extending longitudinally throughout the interior of this shell is the usual stationary suction box 2. The body or greater part of this box and especially that part which cooperates with .the shell to make the seal is substantially the same as in the rolls in general use for a number of years past. Special-A ly constructed members at opposite ends of the shell have been provided to make it possible to combine with the shell a simple and compact form ofgearless drive through which the shell may be direct-ly driven from the in-I drive shaft itself, without interposition of any gears. rThe opposite ends of the suction box are also changed to carry elements which eo-ope'rate with the specially constructed members at the opposite ends of the shell so that the antifriction bearings of the shell may be interposed between such co-operating elements, all as will later appear in detail.

ln this construction the suction is taken from the front end, the pump being suitably connected there.

To the drive end of the shell a head 5 is bolted or otherwise securely fastened in order to drive the shell through said head. The head 5 is provided with suitable hand holes or, openings through which a deckle and deckle rod may be moved as will be later disclosed. Preferably, the head 5 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder iange 6 which overlies and engages the inner wall 'of the shell adjacent the end. This arrangement, while acting to center the head, in assembling, also acts to substantially brace that end of the roll outwardly from the head. It will be noticed, also, that the head overlaps and engages the end wall of the shell, acting as a further positioning means and a brace to the shell in that direction-longitudinally. It is through this overlapping flange or rin that the fastening screws are passed an turned into the end wall of the shell.

The head 5 is provided with an outwardly extending elongated tubular journal 7 of reduced diameter. This journal is mounted on suitable roller or other antifriction bearings 8 the inner race 8a of which has its inner end abutting against the shoulder 7a. These bearings may be mounted in any one of a number of usual and well known ways in 'a standard frame, or suitable roll support 9, with suitable outer cap plate. As in eneral practice, they are made in upper an lower halves or sections, separably connected.

To avoid any possibility of a longitudinal movement of the bearings/8 relative to the journal 7 in an outer direction, a collar or like device 19 is provided on the tubular journal 7 in contact With the outer end of race 8a and adapted to be seated in cooperating channels, recesses or the like 20, in said journal 7.

At the opposite end of the shell 4is disposed another annular plate or head of L-shaped cross section having flanges 10 and 11 at right angles, the radial flange 11 being provided with hand holes for operation of deckles, as in the case of the corresponding flange at the opposite end of the shell. The .flange 10 fits snugly within the shell end, as in the case of the corresponding flange of the annular plate at the o posite end, is provided with a narrow radial ange 14 which overlaps and engages the adjacent shell end and through which screws or the like may be threaded to secure the shell and head together. At this end an annular plate 12 is secured to the flange 1l for a pur ose to be later disclosed. From the radial ange 11 an annular Harige 13 extends at right angles and longitudinally inwardly of the shell. From the inner edge of this longitudinal flange extends a fifth flange 4, parallel with and spaced, considerably, from the plate 12. At the suction end of the roll the suction box is provided with a longitudinal socket 15 of reduced diameter corresponding approximately to the diameter of the central opening through the annular plate 12. Socket 15 is adapted to snugly receive the inner end of a tubular journal 16, an annular shoulder 16 on the journal, contacting the end of the suction box to limit insertion of the j our nal in the socket. That part of the tubular journal lying beyond the end of the suction box is mounted in the antifriction bearings of the shell and in the upper end 17 of a standard or like suitable support, the lower half of which, preferably, is made detachable for removal and replacement of the well known Fourdrinier wire. The upper half of the standard is suitably concaved to seat the outer portion of the tubular journal and is provided with lateral flanges to receive clamping bolts. A concave plate or clamp 18 is drawn into tight clamping) position about the tubular journal end by other suitable means. This clamping action is such as to completely prevent all movement of the tubular journal and attached suction box, in'any direction relatively to the standard. If it is desired to adjust the box angularly within the shell, at any time, it is only necessary to slightly loosen the clamp plate 18, rotate the box to the desired position, and re-clamp. At the opposite end of the roll` the suction box is provided with a socket 21 in which is securel fixed or seated a stub shaft 22 which exten s completely throu h the re duced journal 7, in spaced relation t ereto.

The outer end of this stub shaft is .reduced and has the outer portion of such reducedend olt and nut or 'slightly tapered as at 23 to receive the tubular portion of a removable nut 25 having a cooperating taper and provided with a' threaded opening to receive the threaded central reduced extension 2'6 of the stub shaft. A suitable' lock'nut 27 may be used to prevent loosening of the lnut 25. The inner section of the nut 25 is provided with a radial wall,

flange, or shoulder 28 which acts as a stop or inward limit for the inner race of" the anti- -friction bearing 30. This bearing, as will be clear, is adapted to be seated upon thel cylindrical face or wall of the member 25. Vhen in position it is retained by a lock nut or ring 29 threaded upon the outer threaded portion of the nut 25. The co-operating tapers of said nut and stub shaft act as a quick automatic centering means. Said nut 25 is always correctly aligned with the driving'shaft and consequently, when in place on said stub shaft will maintain proper alignment of the same. The whole bearing and its support may be removed and replaced, as a unit, by simply removing the lock nut 27 and cap nut 25, as will be evident. The bearing 30 is, of course, concentric and carried by the nut-25 and extends radially from the nut to the inner wall of the reduced journal 7, thereby supporting that end of the shell the bearing 30. As a protection to a radial shoulder 3 is formed in the reduced end of journal 7 a short distance inwardly of bearing 30 to intercept any water that might flow along the inside of the shell toward the bearing. Between this shoulder and the bearing is disposed a water tight packing ring, as a further protection.

For driving the shell, a short removable shaft section 81 is provided having a flange 32 through which clamping bolts 33 pass into the end of the journal 7, or into lugs thereon. A flexible coupling of any usual and well known type connects this removable section direct to the regular in-drive shaft for operating the roll.

At the opposite or suction end, the roll is supported by the tubular journal and co-operating socket end of the suction box, the outer or free ends of the journal being seated ner and outer races with rollers or like antifriction elements between. The bearing as a whole is housed between plate 12, flanges 4 and 13, and a bear-ing carrier sleeve 41. Sleeve 41 is constructed to be screwed snugly on the tubular journal and into position to complete the housing of the bearing when all parts are in their proper operative positions.

t is provided with an inner radial flan e 41 which acts as an engaging wall for the earing, and by which the bearing, as a unit, may be withdrawn with the. carrier sleeve. To make a tight closure from the outside of the end of the roll for the bearing, 'a ring or gasket 43 is provided. This is threaded onto the outer face of the carrier and between it and the adjacent edge. ofiplate 12, completely illing the gap and making a water tight closure. lin the construction shown, the shoulder 16 acts as a limit to the inward movement of the carrier 41, to quickly and correctly position it. rlhis is a preferred, though not an essential arrangement After the carrier, with its bearing, has been properly placed, it may be secured against loosening by set screws or the like. lhe plate 12 and gasket 43 are then secured in place. lit will be seen that the shell end is then supported on the tubular journal by the interposed antifriction bearings.

As a further precaution against entrance of water and foreign matter into the housing of the antiitriction bearing 40, guard plates 44 and 45 are provided between the end walls or edges of the bearing races and the flange 4. 'llhey are annular, one having'a central opening of greater diameter than the other, both concentric with the tubular journal and so arranged that they overlap each other and contact along the overlapping areas. Also, they are so arranged and proportioned that they extend, radially, the full inner width of the bearing housing, one of them being provided with a shoulder 46 to space it laterally from its bearing race so that it will maintain a parallel relation to the other. For likereason, the flange 4 is cutaway, radially, to receive or seat such portion of the same guard member as overlies and is in contact with the other member, leaving a shoulder abutting the remaining part of the other guard member to hold it snugly in operative position.

Preferably, the suction connection is made by an elbow pipe having a. horizontal branch which is removabl clamped to the outer or free end o the tu ular shoulder 16, as previously set forth. 'Ihe other 'or vertical branch, is made as short as practical, so that the distance from the longitudinal axis of the roll to the lower edge' of said branch, when disconnected from the suction pipe proper,

will be less than the exterior radiu`s ofthe shell. Connections between this branch and the suction ipe may be the same as or sim, ilar to those etween the other branch and the tubular journal. This will permit easy and guick disconnection. Thus, to replace a wire, 1t is only necessary to disconnect the suction pipe, unbolt the section of the standard at that end, raise the end to remove the loose piece, slide oi the old wire, and replace the new wire.

It will be noticed that theflange 4, adjacent its inner ed e, is returned upon itself to provide a smal outwardly directed ange with its ed e 47 toward the inner surface of the shell. his, of course, rotates with the shell at high speed. Water tendin to run along flange 4 and inwardl to t e bearings will be caught here an thrown back, centrifugally, from this edge. As a further safe ard, a series of small draina e perforations 48 are provided for escape or any water which mlght get into the housing. Suitabley oil holes are also provided, of course. At the opposite end of the roll possible seepage of water alon the stub shaft 22 toward the bearing at t at end is prevented by breaking the continuity of. the surface of the suction box end and the stub shaft, as shown. ln the case ot the suction box end, it is grooved circumt'erentially to provide, longitudinally, alternate channels and angular ridges 47a to collect the moisture so that ,it will drip od' radially. v With the stub shaft, a ring or washer ot suitable shape, and operating in the same way is used. Many changes in details to accomplish the same result ma be made and it is not intended to limit t e present case to those disclosed.

lt should be borne in mind that, though the suction box is a separate construction relatively to its supporting means-the stub shaft and the tubular journalthey are nevertheless, tightly tted into their respective sockets in the box ends and there is no relative movement between them and the box atterthe roll has been completely assembled and is ready for operation. (lonsequently, the position of the suction boX, within the shell, is unchangeable. lt cannot be drawn against the inner surface of the roll and cause the great damage and loss or power otherwise frequently occurring. Nor can4 it move way from the shell and causeleakage and consequent failure of operation. The box is kept accurately and rigidly in a detinite fixed operative position. l

One great trouble in suction rolls for Fourf drinier machines has been the adjustment of the deckles to accord with the varying widths of paper made on the same machine at different times. Whenever an adjustment is t`o be made', it is necessary to stop the machine because therods for adjusting are' y inside lll@ and must be reached through hand holes through the rotating shell ends. In the present invention this is completely eliminated and the deckles may be easily and quickl adjusted as much and as often as desire while the machine is going at its highest speed. Needless to say, the operation is very much safer. In the preferred form, as shown in Fig. 1, the opposite deckle rods 100 are ex- ,w tended inward y toward the center of the roll instead of outwardly as is usually the case. The inner end of each is detachably connected to the upper end of a radially extending post 101 the lower end of which is considerably enlarged, bored and screw threaded to receive and cooperate with a screw threaded rod 102 and 103, respectively. The rod 102 is a solid rod journaled at its inner end in a web in the bottom of the sucgoltion box and provided with suitable stops to prevent longitudinal movement in either direction. It extends longitudinally through -rod 103 which is tubular and which, at its inner end, is similarly mounted in a bearing block in a second -web in the suction box. Rod 103 is threaded through the base of the other post. Thus, rod 103 provides a support and conduit or passage for rod 102, but they are bot-h operable entirely independently of each other. The two rods are extended outwardly through the tubular journal and elbow connection, suitable air tight glands or stuffing boxes being provided where they pass through the elbow and where the inner one extends beyond the outer one. Each is provided with a suitable nut or head by which it may be independently operated to move its respective deckle as desired. If desired, the threading on the rods may be opposite, to move the deckles oppositely when the rods are rotated in the same direction. Longitudinal movement of rod 103 is prevented by nuts 104 keyed to it on opposite sides of its supporting web, as will be clear on reference to Fig. 1. Should it be desired to remove or repair. a deckle, the present invention is particularly practical. It is only necessary, after stopping the machine and aligning the res ective hand holes with the particular dec le, to then operate the corresponding rod until the deckle passes outwardly through the hand hole far enough to be conveniently reached. It may then be quickly removed or repaired, the rod operated reversely until it is back in its original position, and the machine again started. While the rods 102 and 103 have been shown as substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the roll that arrangement is, of course, not necessary. It is essential that they should be so placed as to have freedom of movement, independently of the rotation of the roll, so that they may operate freely at all times. One of the simplest and most practical arrangements for accomplishing this result is that shown, with the rods extending through the lower part o the relatively stationary box and near the longitudinal center of the roll. Power for driving may be transmitted through ilexible drive transmission or through a rigid shaft, as desired. In either instance, connection between such transmission and the removable drive shaft section may be made by any one of a number of well known constructions forming no part of the present invention and neither shown nor described in this application, as it is felt that such showing or description would add nothing to the clearness thereof.

At the drive end of the roll the standard for supporting it is of special construction and particularly designed to permit the roll as a unit, to be swung vertically upward about a center just a slight distance below the outer antifriction bearing of the journal 7. Such upward swinging of the roll is particularly desirable for the removing and replacing of wires. The pivotal mounting comprises an upper section or bearing block 36 of the roll support 9, a lower section or base 37 secured in any suitable and well known manner to said block by a pivot bar or rod 38 arranged horizontally and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shell. Thus by removing clamp plate 18 at the suction end and disconnecting the suction pipe elbow, the suction roll may be swung vertically upward about its pivot to any desired extent. In this connection, it should be borne in mind that the average roll is very heavy. They run from 10" to 40 in diameter and vary proportionately in length. Likewise., of course,l the weight varies .in proportion to the size. The smallest weighs close to a ton and there are very few of this smaller size in use. They are, clearly, unwieldy and cumbersome. In removing and replacing wires, traveling cranes capable of lifting very heavy loads are used. Necessarily, the lifting power is great and, therefore, capable of causing great damage if not checked at the right point. In the usual construction, and practice, there is no pivot in the support of either end. It then becomes necessary to loosen the sole plate or base plate bolts at the rear or drive end to permit the slight give or tilting movement necessary to lift the opposite end of the roll enough to permit the lower removable section 39 to be slid out after unbolting in the usual manner. The lower section extends up slightly beyond the shell wall so that when it is removed there remains no obstacle to removal and replacing of the wire. Or, as shown in this case, this lower part may be in two sections,` the bottommost section being only a plate, all above it being removable by simply unbolting. In such a case, the lift is very slight, a small fraction of an inch being enough, as it is only necessary to take the weight and friction oli' of the section 39 to permit it to be withdrawnyet there must be that much lift to release the block. The diiiiculty of stopping the powerful apparatus at exactly the right point will be obvious. On the other hand, if it is not stopped in ample time, the bearings, supports, and other parts at the opposite end may be ripped to pieces. This frequently happens, with resulting very heavy loss in repair costs and even greater loss through loss of time on the machine. In the present construction, the pivot connection completely eliminates this difliculty as it makes the roll practically fool proof as to the operation of replacing or removing a wire.

It will be clear on reference to Fig. 1 that there are only three sets of bearings, altogether, and that all three sets are very easily and quickly accessible at any and all times. In case of damage, with resulting need of repair or replacement, this is very important and results in a big saving in time in making the repairs as well as the saving of heavy loss in the operation and production of the machine during the time it is idle for repairs. In the more recent constructions of the larger rolls, the lift at the free end is considerably more than above stated, as much as 4 in some, with proportionate multiplication of dangers of damage at opposite end. The annular flanged plates at opposite ends of the shell, in addition to the functions given, perform the further function of dams to prevent the How of water outwardly from the shell ends instead of through the perforated wall. As is well known, these shells rotate at a high rate of speed so that water draining from the pulp through the shell to the interior of the shell does not get the chance to run out that it would with a stationary shell or one revolving at a low speed. The result is that water accumulates in the lower part of the shell faster than it can flow through the perforations of that portion, and, 5 therefore, unless prevented, runs out the ends and into the bearings or other working parts nearby with result-ing damage. In the present construction, .the annular plates at the opposite ends act as dams to prevent this. They give a sufficient head to force the ac- 'cumulating water to ow through the perforations, only, and, therefore, into the drip pans or other receptacles provided. It is thought that the construction, operation, and use of the invention will be clear from the preceeding detailed description, and it is to be understood that many changes may be made in the construction, arrange- 00 ment, and disposition ofthe several parts of tlie`invention within the scope of the appended claims, without in any degree departing from the field and intent of the invention, and it is meant to include all such within 5 this application, wherein the construction disclosed is merely illustrative of asingle preferred form.

What I claim is:

1. A suction roll, a bearing housing therefor comprising sections, and pivotal connections between said sections whereby the suction roll in its bearing may be swung bodily in a vertical direction with its bearing without relative movement between said roll and bearing or said bearing and housing.

2. A suction roll comprising a perforated shell, a head at one end of said shell having an inwardly extending flange thereon defining an enlarged central opening in said head, a shoulder on the inner end of said flange projecting into said opening, a second head secured to the opposite end of said shell and having a tubular journal thereon, a suction box in said shell, means projecting from said suction box intoithe journal of said second head to support one end of said suction box,

the opposite end of said suction box having a socket therein, a journal in said socket projecting through the opening in said first head, a roller bearing mounted between the flange on said head and said journal and retained in place by the shoulder on Said ange, a cover plate secured to said first head over said bearing and means for supporting the journals extending from said heads.

3. A supporting device for a suction roll having a perforated shell, comprisin journals extending from opposite ends o said shell, a tubular housing encircling one of said journals, a bearing between said housing and journal, a supporting base beneath said housing, means for effecting a positive pivotal connection between said housing and said base, and a detachable support for thejournal at the o posite end of said shell whereby this end o the shell may be moved vertically about the pivotal connection between said housing and base.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the pivotal connection between said base and housing comprises aligned lugs on said housing and base and a pintle pin extending through said lugs.

In testimony whereof I alix my si ature.

HILAND R. FARNSWO TH. 

